Miscarriage of Justice? A Chief Ranger And Fallen Trees At Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Did the National Park Service blame messenger Chief Ranger Robert Danno for the message he brought to the Interior Department's Inspector General?

That's a hard question that invites exploration in the case of Mr. Danno, a career Park Service ranger with an impressive resume. He seemingly has been exiled by the agency for blowing the whistle on superiors who ignored well-established federal laws and agency policies and procedures in allowing a billionaire to chop down trees in a scenic easement along the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.

Comments

Submitted by Mary Cissel (not verified) on May 4, 2012 - 3:48pm.

This book is a well written. It's shocking to learn how a ranger who saved lives in the line of duty and dedicated his adult life to the National Park Service is treated by his superiors for doing the right thing. I congratulate him for his courage.

Mary Cissel: I agree with your sentiments. I guess it's a character/human failing that is always a temptation at all stations in life. This Ranger, unfortunately, is in the minority (I believe) throughout public service. Fast trac careers often involve shortcuts and schemeing behavior (and they refer to private secter individuals as schemeing). The schemers often destroy threatening individuals careers and instill fear in their underlings to survive. This Ranger is someone we should put out there as an example to emulate sending shivers through those not committed to public/resource service. A good President ought to give the Ranger an honor to set an example.

I think it is quite obvious that the National Park Service carried out massive reprisal against Ranger Rob Danno, for having the temerity to blow the whistle on an illegal deal; that being allowing Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder to cut down several dozen trees on NPS lands to improve the view from his mansion. Those trees belonged to all Americans, not just a privileged billionaire. The NPS would have us believe that this Ranger, with an exemplary career suddenly went bad at the same time as his disclosure. Reprisal for whistleblowing is illegal under the Whistleblower Protection Act, but this seems to have hardly slowed up the NPS in its vindictive mission against one of its best employees.